Catherine Keener and Oliver Platt star in Nicole Holofcener’s latest
PLEASE GIVE (Nicole Holofcener, 2010)
www.sonyclassics.com/pleasegive
Writer-director Nicole Holofcener’s PLEASE GIVE is a nearly flawless portrait of a couple of quirky New York City families who come together in strange, awkward ways. Kate (Catherine Keener) and Alex (Oliver Platt) resell furniture they buy from the relatives of the recently deceased; they are particularly eager for the old lady next door, Andra (Ann Guilbert, Millie Helper from THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW), to pass on so they can knock down the walls and expand their own apartment. Sweet and innocent Rebecca (Rebecca Hall), a mammogram technician, has sacrificed any personal life she might have by taking care of her grandmother despite Andra’s nasty, mean-spirited nature. Rebecca’s sister, Mary (Amanda Peet), who gives facials at a beauty salon, doesn’t seem to care that Andra’s about to kick the bucket and isn’t afraid to say that to her face. And Abby (Sarah Steele), Kate and Alex’s teen daughter, is furious that her mother won’t buy her expensive jeans yet constantly hands out plenty of money to neighborhood bums and a local transvestite. Holofcener (WALKING AND TALKING, LOVELY & AMAZING) has a great ear for dialogue and an innate sense of creating realistic, believable situations, nailing each character’s dilemmas as their stories all converge. The central focus is on Kate, who desperately wants to make the world a better place but is having difficulty figuring just how she might be able to do that, continually seeking volunteer opportunities that end up being just too painful for her. PLEASE GIVE is a wonderful, engaging film that will be especially endearing for New York City audiences.